Formula 1 News: Marko exit sparks fears of F1 ‘character void’

(GMM) The departure of Dr Helmut Marko (pictured) is being framed by commentators as more than just a Red Bull issue, with concerns growing that Formula 1 itself is losing some of its last defining personalities.

UK company filings this week show that Marko, 82, has been removed as a director from multiple Red Bull entities, including Red Bull Racing Limited, Red Bull Advanced Technologies and Red Bull Powertrains, formalizing his complete exit from the organization after two decades.

Writing in Bild, Michel Milewski argues that Marko’s exit risks creating a wider problem for the sport.

“What is intended to be a (partial) solution for Red Bull on its way back to the top of Formula 1 threatens to become a problem for the racing series itself,” he writes.

“Because it is heading straight for a character crisis.”

Milewski links Marko’s departure to that of Christian Horner, noting that two of the sport’s most confrontational and polarizing figures have now gone in quick succession.

“The only remaining character among the team principals is Toto Wolff,” he claims. “Eight of the 10 team bosses are former engineers. They think in black and white, not in red alert. So who is Wolff supposed to argue with in front of the cameras of Netflix and other streaming services?

“Answer – No one.”

According to Milewski, the concern extends beyond management.

“Formula 1 needs to shift into a higher gear in terms of character,” he writes, warning that with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso nearing the end of their careers and Max Verstappen frequently flirting with retirement, the sport risks losing its most recognizable figures.

Similar concerns have been voiced by former Russian F1 commentator Alexey Popov, who says modern Formula 1 lacks the personalities that once drew fans into the sport.

“Personalities are fading,” Popov said. “I’m not saying that modest engineers aren’t personalities, but they’re not showmen.”

He contrasted today’s paddock with earlier eras.

“Peter Sauber, even though he was a quiet Swiss, was still a character – a man with a cigar and few words. Or the exalted Eddie Jordan, or the boring Ron Dennis, or the fussy little Jean Todt,” Popov said.

“These characters made people fall in love with Formula 1.”